Bossier Sheriff to host investment scam seminars

Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington is hosting a free Investment Fraud Scams seminar Aug. 13-14 at the Viking Drive Substation to educate individuals about fraud awareness and how to report investment fraud scams. One seminar is geared towards the general public, seniors and Posse members, while the second seminar is geared towards those in law enforcement.

The seminars will be conducted by Nancy Boudreaux of the Securities Division of the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions at no cost, and everyone is welcome to attend. The seminars discuss investment scams and cover victim profiles, targets for fraud, red flags that indicate fraud, the top scams and free resources available to help investors.

Friday, Aug. 14, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m., at the Viking Drive Substation. Open to all area law enforcement officers. Call 965-3500 to register.

This new outreach program being offered by OFI was produced by the North American Securities Administrators Association and had been endorsed by the National White Collar Crime Center.

"These types of crimes of investment or financial fraud are serious business, and we want our residents, especially our seniors who are often targeted for such scams, to be better educated how to deal with these matters," said Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington. "From a law enforcement perspective, our detectives continually stay on the forefront of white collar crimes, and seminars like this help enhance those abilities so that we can bring these felony criminals to justice."

The seminars are offered at no-cost, open to anyone, and no investment advice is given, and no products are sold. Call 965-3500 to register. For additional information, contact the Investor Education department of OFI at 1-877-516-3653. Additional free tools and resources pertaining to investment fraud can be found at www.ofi.la.gov/SecuritiesInvestorEd.htm.